Phosphates not stable

[toddb93]

Hello again,

Once again I would like to thank this community for all the help and input that has been given for the questions I have posted. I have something else I need some assistance with. Over the course of 2.5 weeks, I went from taking my phosphates down from .2 to .04 using rowaphos in a mesh bag. Once I saw it came to .04 I took the rowaphos out and tested again 24 hours later to see if there was a change, and the phosphate shot back to .11. I am hoping someone can give some advice about how to get this phosphate to stabilize because I do not want to run rowaphos on and off. Would possibly raising my nitrate help the phosphate to stay more stable? Any help would be very appreciated. Thank you!

Here are the tank details:

38 gallon AIO mixed reef
Running media basket with mechanical filtration and rowaphos (since it shot back up) and protein skimmer
Alk: 7.2
Calcium: 440
Phosphate: .11 (from .04 in 24 hours)
Nitrate: 0-1 (based off nyos test kit)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Phosphate: .11 (from .04 in 24 hours)

Both of those values are fine. I would not agonize over trying to more tightly control it, whether it is a real change or test error.

 

[toddb93]

Both of those values are fine. I would not agonize over trying to more tightly control it, whether it is a real change or test error.

Hey Randy, thank you for the reply. I Definitley agree, just have been tracking it more because I’ve been having issues with cyanobacteria. Granted when the outbreak was bad my phosphates were over .21 with nitrates at 0. But still just wanted to make sure I can keep the levels more stable

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Foods add a lot of phosphate every day, and you have little control over how long it takes organisms to digest food and release phosphate. I don't think trying to control that level of phosphate stability is needed or even possible.

 

[toddb93]

Foods add a lot of phosphate every day, and you have little control over how long it takes organisms to digest food and release phosphate. I don't think trying to control that level of phosphate stability is needed or even possible.

Thank you Randy, appreciate the help. I’ll let the tank do its thing for a while and see how it progresses. Any tips if I keep encountering cyano? Anything else I should keep an eye on?

 

[exnisstech]

With nitrate at 0 I would work on raising them a little and just keeping an eye on phosphate. I have tank with phos at 0.5 and all is good but nitrates are close to 20

 

[toddb93]

With nitrate at 0 I would work on raising them a little and just keeping an eye on phosphate. I have tank with phos at 0.5 and all is good but nitrates are close to 20

Yeah I keep reading about not chasing specific numbers it’s just the two at a specific ratio is better than others

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Yeah I keep reading about not chasing specific numbers it’s just the two at a specific ratio is better than others

Well, IMO there's no evidence to support ratios are ever being useful as targets, as opposed to targeting both N and P at appropriate levels independently.

Having both too high or both too low can maintain any ratio you want, but are still undesirable. Having both in desirable ranges solves any such concern.

 

[toddb93]

Well, IMO there's no evidence to support ratios are ever being useful as targets, as opposed to targeting both N and P at appropriate levels independently.

Having both too high or both too low can maintain any ratio you want, but are still undesirable. Having both in desirable ranges solves any such concern.

Makes sense, do you have any experience with dosing nitrates? In my tank it seems that whenever I feed more only phosphate levels increase

 

[Miami Reef]

Makes sense, do you have any experience with dosing nitrates? In my tank it seems that whenever I feed more only phosphate levels increase

For nitrate: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/post-your-diy-additives-here.344149/#post-4288139

For ammonia: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-ammonia-dosing-for-low-nitrate-systems.987087/


Pick one.

 

[toddb93]

For nitrate: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/post-your-diy-additives-here.344149/#post-4288139

For ammonia: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-ammonia-dosing-for-low-nitrate-systems.987087/


Pick one.

Awesome! Thank you for the input

 

[MrGisonni]

Use a little less rowaphos and change it when your number starts rising. I can keep my phosphates between .03 and .1 with about a tablespoon of rowaphos in a small filter sock changed out monthly in my 30 mixed reef

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Makes sense, do you have any experience with dosing nitrates? In my tank it seems that whenever I feed more only phosphate levels increase

FWIW, I never needed to dose nitrate.

 

[exnisstech]

Awesome! Thank you for the input

I'm not sure if it's still the case but the last time I needed some I was able to buy directly from loudwolf cheaper than any third party site

 

[toddb93]

Use a little less rowaphos and change it when your number starts rising. I can keep my phosphates between .03 and .1 with about a tablespoon of rowaphos in a small filter sock changed out monthly in my 30 mixed reef

Good to know thank you for the input!